to Worship him Obs 2. Herod calls him the young Child not the young King that Word was too big to come out of Herod's proud Mouth he could neither bear the Thing nor brook the Title Obs 3. How craftily Herod lays his Plot he desires the Wise Men to inquire thoroughly and to inform him privately To be Wise in doing Mischief is the worst Wisdom in the World 'T is not the Wisdom from above but from Hell beneath 9 When they had heard the king they departed and lo the star which they saw in the east went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was 10 When they saw the star they rejoyced with exceeding great joy 11 And when they were come into the house they saw the young child with Mary his mother and fell down and worshipped him and when they had opened their treasures they presented unto him gifts gold and frankincense and myrrh Observe here 1. How the Star which for some time disappeared now appears again to their farther Direction in finding Christ Teaching us That God will not be wanting to such as are on the Way to seek Christ but will renew Directions and Encouragements to them according as they stand in need none ever sincerely sought Christ but they certainly found him at the last Obs 2. That the Joy which arises in such a Soul as has found Christ is unutterable and unspeakable the Wise Men here Rejoyced with Joy with great Joy with exceeding great Joy Obs 3. The Wise Men having found this young King they bring Presents to him according to the manner of the Eastern Countries namely Gold Frankincense and Myrrh which were the principal Commodities of the East But the best Present we can make to Christ is our Selves he seeks not Ours but Us and rather desires what we are than what we have Yet the Providence of God was wonderfully seen in these Presents for hereby Provision was made for the Sustenance of Joseph and Mary and the Child Jesus in their Exile or Flight into Egypt which they were shortly to undergo 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod they departed into their own countrey another way God having warned the Wise Men in a Dream not to go back to Herod they return home another way But did these Wise Men play the Parts of Honest Men in that they returned not again to Herod Answ It appears not that they promised Herod to return tho' he expected it or if they did it was in consideration that Herod should Come and Worship Christ not Murther and Destroy him But if they promised him never so positively God Almighty gave them a Dispensation from that Promise by commanding them to return home another way Herod kept his Design against Christ close from the Wise Men but he could not conceal his Intentions from the infinitely Wise God he knew the Purposes of his Heart and by his Providence kept Christ out of his Hand There is no Wisdom nor Understanding nor Counsel against the Lord. 13 And when they were departed behold the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream saying Arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt and be thou there until I bring thee word for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him 14 When he arose he took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt 15 And was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying Out of Egypt have I called my Son Obs here 1. How our Lord himself in a time of Persecution flies for Safety who was able a thousand ways to have preserv'd himself from Danger Teaching us That in times of Difficulty and Danger 't is neither unwarrantable nor unbecoming to preserve our Lives by flight surely 't is no Shame for us to fly when our Captain doth both practise it and command it also Christ by his own Example has sanctified that State of Life unto us and by his Command has made it lawful for us Obs 2. The Place which Christ flies unto for Safety and that is Egypt an unlikely Place considered in it self Who could expect Liberty in that House of Bondage But any Place is good if God sends us thither and Christ be in our company his Presence can make Egypt it self not only safe but delightful also Obs 3. How readily Joseph complies with the Divine Command instantly He arose and took the young Child and fled Teaching us That when our Direction is clear our Compliance should be speedy We cannot be too forward and expeditious in the Execution of Divine Commands Obs 4. Tho' Joseph at the Command of God flies presently from Herod's Rage yet he flies privately by Night and prudentially begins his Journey when least Notice should be taken of his Motion Teaching us That altho' we have never so many Promises of Safety and Deliverance yet we must not put God upâ—â— Working Miracles for our Preservation when it may be obtained in the Use of Means 16 Then Herod when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men was exceeding wroth and sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof from two years old and under according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men Obs How Herod having play'd the Fox before he acts the Lion now his secret Policy not succeeding he breaks out into open and inhumane Cruelty Learn That when Fraud and Subtilty fail the Enemies of the Church they then fall to open Rage and barbarous Inhumanity Thus here these Holy Innocents fall as a Sacrifice to Herod's Rage and Die for Christ who came to Die for them and so were Martyrs in Deed tho' not in Will Some affirm that Herod did not spare his own Child then at Nurse in the Coasts of Bethlehem which made Augustus say He had rather be Herod's Hog than Herod's Child because the Jews did kill and eat no Swine's Flesh 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet saying 18 In Rama was there a voice heard lamentation and weeping and great mourning Rachel weeping for her children and would not be comforted because they are not Observe here The loud and bitter Cry which the Mothers of Bethlehem make for the Death of their innocent Children which were barbarously slain by the Sword of Herod Here was Lamentation Weeping and great Mourning made by Rachel that is by the Women inhabiting in and about Bethlehem where Rachel's Sepulcher was for the Land about Bethlehem was called Rachel from her Sepulcher so famous in those Parts Rachel here is not the Name of a Person but of a Place Obs 2. The Cause and Reason of this Cry and bitter Lamentation the Mothers weep not because their Children are but because they are not they did not with some
Gentiles Christ is a light to the one and the glory of the other a light to the blind and dark Gentiles and the Glory of the Renowned Church of the Jews The Messias being promised to them born and bred up with them living amongst them preaching his Doctrine to them and working his Miracles before them and thus was Christ the Glory of his people Israel 34 And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his mother Behold this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be spoken against 35 Yea a sword shall pass thro' thine own Soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed Two things are here observed Simeon's Blessing and Simeons Prediction he blessed them that is the Parents and the Child Jesus not Authoritatively but Prophetically declaring how God would bless them his Prediction is Twofold 1. concerning Christ 2. concerning his Mother concerning Christ Simeon declares that he should be for the rise of many in Israel namely all such as should embrace and obey his Doctrine and imitate and follow his example and for the fall of others that is shall bring punishment and ruine upon all obdurate and impenitent Sinners and a Sign to be spoken against that is he shall be as a mark for obstinate Sinners to set themselves against Christ himself when here in the World was a stone of stumbling and a Rock of offence to the men of the World enduring the contradiction of Sinners against himself both the virulence of their Tongues and the violence of their hands 2. Concerning the Mother of Christ Simeon declares that the sight of her Son 's bitter Sufferings would like a Sword pierce through heâ— Heart for tho' he might be born yet should he not dyâ— without the pains of his Mother as if the Throws suffered by other Women at the Birth were reserved for her to endure at the death of her Son The Sufferings of the Holy Jesus on the Cross were as a Sword or dagger at the Heart of the Holy Virgin and she Suffered with him both as a tender Mother and as a Sympathizing Member of his Body 36 And there was one Anna a prophetess the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asser she was of a great Age and had lived with an husband seven years from her Virginity 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years which departed not from the Temple but served God with fastings and prayers night and day 38 And she coming in at that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Israel Simeon is seconded by Anna a Prophetess she also declares that the child Jesus was the promised and expected Messias and thus Christ was proclaimed in the Temple by two Heralds of different Sexes Concerning this Aged Woman Anna it is said that she departed not from the Temple night nor day not that she lived and lodged there but by her never departing from understand her daily repairing to the Temple that which is often done is said in Scripture to be always done we are said to do a thing continually when we do it seasonably Thus we pray continually when we pray as often as duty requires us to pray Learn hence That such duties as a Christian performs out of Conscience he will perform with Constancy and Perseverance Nature will have her good Moods but Grace is steady The devotions of a pious Soul like Anna's are as constant but more frequent then the returns of day and night 39 And when they had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord they returned into Galilee to their own city Nazareth 40 And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit filled with wisdom and the Grace of God was upon him Here we see the truth and reality of Christ's Humane Nature he grew as we do from Infancy to Childhood from Childhood to Youth and Manhood To his divine Nature no accession or addition could be made for that which is infinite cannot encrease The deity was infinite in Christ so was not the Humanity but capable of additions and accordingly as Christ grâ—w up the Stature of his Body and the faculties of his mind encreased thro' the Grace and Power of God's Spirit upon him 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every Year at the feast of the passover 42 And when he was twelve years old they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast Observe here the persons making this yearly Journey to Jerusalem our Saviour's Parents and himself 1. Joseph who is called Christ's Father not that he was his natural Father for Christ had no Father upon Earth but Joseph was his Reputed and supposed Father his nursing Father who by the appointment of God took a Fatherly care of him and and his Father in Law being Husband to Mary 2. Mary the Mother of Christ went up to Jerusalem with her Husband and her Son God commanded only the Males to go up to Jerusalem the weaker Sex were excused but the Holy Virgin well knowing the spiritual profit of that long Journey would not stay at home Such as will go no farther than they are dragged in Religious Exercises are Strangers to the Virgins Piety and devotion But 3. the child Jesus in his Minority goes up with his Parents to this holy Solemnity thereby no doubt intending our instruction when we are young to give God an early possession of our Souls to consecrate the Virgin Operations of our minds to him and in our Youth to keep close to the Worship and Service of God when we are so importunately courted by the World Obâ—erve farther This holy Family came not to look at the Feast and be gone but they duly stay'd out all the appointed time â—â—seph's Calling and the Virgins Houshold Business could â—either keep them at home nor hasten them home before the publick Duties in the Temple were dispatcht and ended All worldly Business must give place to Divine Offices and we must attend God's service to the end except we will depart unblest 43 And when they had fulfilled the days as they returned the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem and Joseph and his mother knew not of it 44 But supposing him to have been in the company went a days journey and they sought him amongst their kinsfolk and acquaintance 45 And when they found him not they turned back to Jerusalem seeking him The Service of the Temple being ended they return home to Nazareth Religious Duties are not to be attended to the prejudice and neglect of our particular Callings God calls us as well from his House as to his House They are much mistaken who think God is pleased with nothing but Devotion he that says be fervent in Spirit serving the Lord says also be not slothful in business Piety and Industry must keep pace with one another God is as well pleased
blind And if the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch Obs here 1. How the Disciples wonder that our Saviour did so little regard the Displeasure of the Pharisees Knowest thou not that the Pharisees were offended Altho' nothing vext the Pharisees more than the Discovery of their False Doctrine before the Multitude yet our Saviour did not stick to detect their Errours and to declare the Truth let the Effects of their Displeasure be what they would Sinful Man-pleasing is fruitless and endless Obs 2. Our Lord's Answer which shews a double Reason why he thus slighted the Offence taken by the Pharisees 1. He compares the Pharisees Doctrine and Tradition to noisom Weeds in the Church planted there not by God but themselves and consequently shall certainly be rooted up In Matters of Religion if Men will act according to the Dictates of their own Fancies and not walk by the Rule of God's Word they may please themselves perhaps but they can never please their Maker Divine Institution is the only sure Rule of Religious Worship 2. Christ compares the Pharisees themselves to blind Guides They are blind Leaders of the Blind Leaders and Followers both blind who will certainly and suddenly fall into the Ditch of Temporal and Eternal Destruction Learn 1. That Ignorant Erroneous and Unfaithful Ministers are the heaviest Judgments that can befal a People 2. That the following of such Teachers and blind Guides will be no Excuse to a People another Day much less free them from the Danger of Eternal Destruction 15 Then answered Peter and said unto him Declare unto us this parable 16 And Jesus said Are ye also yet without understanding 17 Do not ye yet understand that whatsoever entreth in at the mouth goeth into the belly and is cast out into the draught 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart and they defile the man 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries fornications thefts false witness blasphemies 20 These are the things which defile a man but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man The Disciples desiring the Interpretation of the foregoing Parable our Saviour gives it them but withal expostulates with them that they did not understand a thing so obvious and plain Are ye yet without Vnderstanding As if he had said Have you sat thus long under my Ministerial Teaching and enjoyed the Benefit of my Company and Conversation And yet are no farther Proficients in Knowledge Whence Learn That our Lord expects a Proficiency in Knowledge from us answerable to the Opportunities and Means of Knowledge enjoyed by us Next he gives them the Sence and Signification of the Parable telling them that it is out of a Sinful Heart that all Sin proceeds The Heart is the Cage of Nest which is full of these unclean Birds and from whence they take their flight Tho' the Occasions of Sin are from without yet the Source and Original of Sin is from within Learn That the Heart of Man is the Sink and Seed-Plot of all Sin and the Fountain of all Pollution the Life could not be so bad if the Heart were not worse All the Irregularity of our Lives flows from the Impurity of our Hearts and Natures 21 And Jesus went thence and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon 22 And behold a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts and cried unto him saying Have mercy on me O Lord thou Son of David my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil Observe here The constant Employment of our Saviour He went about doing Good from Place to Place in the Borders of Tyre and Sidon he finds a Faithful Woman of the Race of the Canaanites who becomes an humble Supplicant to Christ while the Jews neglected so great Salvation Yea she not only speaks but cries unto him Were we duly affected with our Spiritual Wants we could speak to God in no other Language than that of Cries and Tears nothing but Cries can pierce Heaven Obs 2. Tho' all Israel could not Example the Faith of this Canaanite yet was her Daughter tormented with a Devil Learn That neither Truth nor Strength of Faith can secure us either against Satan's inward Temptations or outward Vexations and consequently the worst of Bodily Afflictions are no sufficient Proof of Divine Displeasure Obs 3. The Daughter did not come to Christ for her self but the Mother for her Perhaps the Child was not so sensible of its own Misery but the good Mother feels both the Child's Sorrow and her own True Goodness teaches us to appropriate the Afflictions of others to our selves it causes us to bear their Griefs and to sympathize with them in their Sorrows 23 But he answered her not a word And his disciples came and besought him saying Send her away for she crieth after us Strange That a miserable Supplicant should cry and sue whilst the God of Mercy is speechless What Is the Fountain of Mercy dried up Oh Saviour We have oft sound Cause to wonder at thy Words but never till now at thy Silence Learn hence That Christ doth sometimes delay to return an Answer to a well-qualified Prayer Sometimes his People do not Pray enough earnestly sometimes they Pray too earnestly for some Outward and Temporal Mercy sometimes the Mercy they Pray for is not good for them or it may be it is not yet good for them Let us not then judge of God's Hearing Prayer by his present Answer 24 But he answered and said I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel Obs When our Saviour doth Answer he gives not one Word of Comfort but rather a Repulse Christ has oft-times Love in his Heart to his People when they can read none in his Countenance nor gather it from his Discourse Obs The Answer it self Christ says not I am sent to the lost Sheep of the House of Adam but To the lost Sheep of the House of Israel The Jews are compared unto Sheep the Gentiles unto Dogs Christ insinuates that tho' she were a lost Sheep of Adam yet not being one of the lost Sheep of Israel he could do nothing for her 25 Then came she and worshipped him saying Lord help me Yet hath not this poor Woman done Christ's former Silence and his present Denial cannot silence her She Comes she Worships she Cries Lord help me Oh what an undaunted Grace is the Grace of Faith It has a strong Heart and a bold Forehead peremptory Denials cannot dismay it This Woman will not despond though her Prayer of Faith from the Knees of Humility succeed not 26 But he answered and said It is not meet to take the childrens bread and to cast it to dogs Obs here The seeming Severity of Christ to this poor Woman he calls her not a Woman but a Dog and as it were spurns her from his Feet with an harsh Repulse Did ever so severe a Word drop
rest in preaching and did with greater Zeal and Power sound forth the Doctrine of the Gospel like Thunder 20 And the multitude cometh together again so that they could not so much as eat bread 21 And when his friends heard of it they went out to lay hold on him for they said He is beside himself 22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said He hath Beelzebub and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils 23 And he called them unto him and said unto them in parables How can Satan cast out Satan 24 And if a kingdom be divided against it self that kingdom cannot stand 25 And if a house be divided against it self that house cannot stand 26 And if Satan rise up against himself and be divided he cannot stand but hath an end 27 No man can enter into a strong man's house and spoil his goods except he will first bind the strong man and then he will spoil his house 28 Verily I say unto you All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the holy Ghost hath never forgiveness but is in danger of eternal damnation 30 Because they said He hath an unclean spirit Observe here 1. How truly our Lord's Word was verified John 4.34 My Meat is to do the Will of him that sent me for he and his Apostles going into an House to refresh themselves in their Hunger the People press'd upon him so fast to hear the Word that he regards not the satisfying of his Hunger but applies himself to instruct the People Lord how exemplary was thy Zeal and Diligence in preaching the everlasting Gospel to a lost World As it is instructive to may it be imitated and followed by all thy Ambassadors Obs 2. The rash Censure of our Saviour's Friends that is his Kinsmen concerning this Action in neglecting to eat Bread and suffering the Multitude thus unseasonably to press upon him They conclude he is besides himself Out of his right Mind and accordingly went out to lay hold upon him Learn hence 1. That the forward Zeal and Diligence of Christ and his Ministers in preaching the Gospel is accounted Madness and Frenzy by a Blind World But they may say with the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.13 If we be besides our selves it is unto God But who were the Persons that thus look'd upon our Saviour as besides himself Verily his own Kindred and Relations according to the Flesh Learn thence That oft-times the Servants of God meet with the strongest Temptations from and are most discouraged and molested by such as are their nearest Relations by Blood or Alliance This is a great Trial to find our Relations setting us back instead of helping us forward in the ways of Religion but we must bear it patiently knowing that not only others of God's Children but Jesus Christ his own and only Son did experience this Trial. Observe 3. The malicious and wicked Slander which the Scribes endeavoured to fix upon our Blessed Saviour namely That he was possest of the Devil and by Familiarity with him and Help from him cast forth Devils out of others Good God! how was thine own and only Son the Holy and Innocent Jesus censured slandered and falsly accused of the worst of Crimes of Gluttony of Blasphemy of Sorcery Can any of thy Children expect Freedom from the Persecution of the Tongue when Innocency it self could not protect thy Holy Son from Slander and false Accusation Obs 4. Our Saviour's Answer and just Apology for himself in which are contained 1. A Confutation of their Calumny and Slander 2. A Reprehension of the Scribes for the same 1. To confute this Slander our Saviour by several Arguments shews how absurd and unlikely it is that the Devil should cast out himself and any ways oppose or seek to destroy his own Kingdom As if our Saviour had said Is it likely that Satan would â—end me his Power to use it against himself Surely Satan will do nothing to weaken his own Interest or shake the Pillars of his own Kingdom Now if I have received my Power from Satan for destroying him and his Kingdom Then is Satan like a Family divided within it self and like a Kingdom divided against it self which can never stand but be brought to Desolation Our Saviour having sufficiently shewn that he did not work his Miracles by the Power of the Devil he next informs them from whence he had that Power even from God himself and accordingly he compares Satan to a strong Man well-armed with Weapons to defend his House and he compares himself clothed with Divine Power to one that is stronger than the strong Man So that the Argument runs thus The Devil is very strong and powerful and there is no Power but God's only that is stronger than his If then says Christ I were not assisted with a Divine Power I could never cast out this strong Man who reigns in the Bodies and Souls of Men as in his House for it must be a stronger than the strong Man that shall bind Satan and who is he but the God of Strength Learn hence That Christ's Divine Power is only Superiour to Satan's Strength He only can vanquish and over-rule him at his Pleasure and drive him out of that Possession which he holds either in the Bodies or in the Souls of Men. Obs 5. The Charge which our Saviour brings against the Scribes and Pharisees for Blaspheming his Divine Power in working Miracles He charges them with sinning the unpardonable Sin against the Holy Ghost All Sin and Blasphemy shall be forgiven but he that shall Blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never Forgiveness As if Christ had said All the Reproaches which you cast upon me as Man are pardonable as when you check me with the Poverty and Meaness of my Birth when you censure me for a Wine-bibber a Glutton a Friend and Companion of Sinners and the like unjust Crimes But when you Blaspheme that Divine Power by which all my Miracles are wrought and contrary to the Convictions of your own enlightned Minds maliciously ascribe all my Miracles to the Power of the Devil which were wrought indeed by the Power of the Holy Ghost this makes your Condition not only dangerous but desperate because you resist the last Remedy and oppose the best Means for your Conviction For what can be done more to convince you that I am the true and promised Messiah than to work so many Miracles before your Eyes to that Purpose Now if when you see these you will say it is not the Spirit of God that works these but the Power of the Devil as if Satan would conspire against himself and seek the Ruin of his own Kingdom there is no Way or Means left to convince you but you will continue in your Obstinacy and malicious Opposition to Truth to your unutterable and inevitable Condemnation 31 There came then his
hard Dealing towards others An Evil Eye That is an Envious Spirit which frets and grieves at the Happiness of others called an Evil Eye because Envy doth much shew and manifest it self in the outward Countenance and especially by the Eyes From the whole Note That the best way to hinder the progress of Sin in the Life is to mortifie it in the Heart to Crucifie all inordinate Motions Lusts and Corruptions in their root for the Heart is the first Seat and Subject of Sin from whence it flows forth into the Life and Conversation 24 And from thence he arose and went into the borders of Tyre and Sydon and entered into an house and would have no man know it but he could not be hid 25 For a certain woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell at his feet 26 The woman was a Greek a Syrophenician by nation and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her Daughter 27 But Jesus said unto her Let the children first be filled for it is not meet to take the childrens bread and to cast it unto the dogs 28 And she answered and said unto him Yes Lord yet the dogs under the table eat of the childrens crumbs 29 And he said unto her for this saying go thy way the devil is gone out of thy daughter 30 And when she was come to her house she found the devil gone out and her daughter laid upon the bed All along in the History of our Saviour's Life we are to take notice how he went about from place to place doing good being now come into the Borders of Tyre and Sidon he finds a poor Woman of the Race of the Canaanites who becomes first an humble Supplicant and then a Bold Beggar on the behalf of her Possessed Daughter Where Obs 1. That though all Israel could not example the Faith of this Canaanite yet was her Daughter Tormented with the Devil Learn thence That neither truth of Faith nor strength of Faith can secure against Satan's inward Temptations or outward Vexations and consequently the worst of Bodily Afflictions are no sufficient proof of Divine Displeasure Obs 2. The Daughter did not come to Christ for her self but the Mother for her Perhaps the Child was not so sensible of its own Misery but the Mother feels both the Childs sorrow and her own True Goodness teaches us to appropriate the Afflictions of others to our selves causing us to bear their Griefs and to Sympathize with them in their Sorrows Obs 3. The seeming Severity of Christ to this poor Wâ—man he calls her not a Woman but a Dog and as it were Spurns her from the Table Did ever so Severe a Word drop from those mild Lips What shall we say Is the Lamb of God turned Lion that a Woman in Distress imploring Pity should be thus rated out of Christ's Presence But hence we Learn How Christ puts the strongest Faith of his own Children upon the severest Tryal This Tryal had never been so sharp if her Faith had not been so strong Usually where God gives much Grace he tries Grace much Obser 4. The Humble Carriage of this Holy Woman her Humility grants all her Patience overcomes all she meekly desires to possess the Dogs place not to croud to the Table but to creep under it and to partake of the Crumbs of Mercy that fall from thence Indeed she shewed one of the best qualities of the Dog in keeping her hold where she had once fastned not letting go nor giving over until she had gotten what she desired But nothing is so pleasing to Christ as to see his People follow him with Faith and Importunity when he seems to withdraw himself from them 31 And again departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sydon he came unto the sea of Galilee thorow the midst of the coasts of Decapolis 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf and had an impediment in his speech and they beseech him to put his hands upon him 33 And he took him aside from the multitude and put his fingers into his ears and he spit and touched his tongue 34 And looking up to heaven he sighed and saith unto him Ephphatha that is be opened 35 And straightway his ears were opened and the string of his Tongue was loosed and he spake plain 36 And he charged them that they should tell no Man but the more he charged them so much the more a great deal they published it 37 And were beyond measure astonished saying He hath done all things well he maketh both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak See here 1. The bitter Fruits and sad Effects of Sin which has brought Deafness Dumbness and Blindness upon the Humane Nature As Death so all Diseases entred into the World by Sin Sin first brought Infirmities and Mortality into our Natures and the Wages of Sin are Diseases and Death Observe 2. That the Blessing of Bodily Health and Healing is from Christ who by his Divine Power as he was God miraculously and immediately healed them that were brought unto him Obser 3. The Actions and Gestures which our Saviour used in healing this Deaf Person He put his Fingers into his Ears he spit and touched his Tongue Not that these were Means or Natural Causes effecting the Cure for there was no healing Vertue in the Spittle but only outward Signs Testimonies and Pledges of Christ's Divine Power and Gracious Readiness to cure the Person in Distress Obser 4. How Christ withdrew the Person from the Multitude whom he was about to help and heal Teaching us in all our Good Works to avoid all Shew and Appearance of Ostentation and Vain-Glory To set God's Glory before our Eyes and not seek our own Praise Observe 5. The Effect which this Miracle had upon the Multitude it occasion'd their Astonishment and Applause They were astonished and said He hath done all things well It becomes us both to take Notice of the wonderful Works of God and also to magnify and extol the Author of them This is one way of glorifying our Creator CHAP. VIII 1 IN those days the Multitude being very great and having nothing to eat Jesus called his Disciples unto him and said unto them 2 I have compassion on the multitude because they have now been with me three days and have nothing to eat 3 And if I send them away fasting to their own Houses they will faint by the way for divers of them came from far 4 And his Disciples answered him From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread in the wilderness 5 And he asked them How many loaves have ye and they said Seven 6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground and he took the seven loaves and gave thanks and brake and gave to his Disciples to set before them and they did set them before the People 7 And they had a few small fishes and he blessed